EAST LANSING — Mark Dantonio views Chris Frey as a throwback linebacker in the mold of Chris Spielman.

Given that Frey has been mentored by the former Detroit Lions and Ohio State star since his freshman year of high school, that should come as no surprise.

Frey, one of two members of Michigan State's recruiting class already enrolled in school, played with Spielman's son, Noah, at Upper Arlington High School near Columbus and gained as much knowledge as he could from the four-time NFL Pro Bowl linebacker and current ESPN college football analyst.

"Mr. Spielman took me under his arm my freshman year, and we watched film a few times," Frey recalled Wednesday. "Really, it was a great opportunity for me. He taught me a lot, he knows more than a lot of people I know about the game. He's a great person; he's a great mentor. He really helped me out a lot."

Frey, one of four linebackers signed by MSU, now finds himself trying to take advantage of the head start on his college career. The Spartans lose starters Max Bullough and Denicos Allen and reserve Kyler Elsworth off of last year’s team.

"I think it's great to come in early," Frey said. "I get to come in and show my talent off a little bit. I get to learn a lot about the defense before everybody else, and I get a chance to get a head start on everybody else.”

The process has been smoother for Frey with tight end Matt Sokol also being enrolled early. The two are roommates and have leaned on each other as they've started making the adjustment to college football.

"I'm really happy me and him are going through this together, because it would have been hard to be by yourself," said Sokol, who is transitioning to tight end after playing quarterback at Rochester Adams.

"We've known each other for a while, just via social media, but the past four and a half weeks, we've really become closer. I'm really happy that he's my teammate and he's my roommate right now."